Bobby Deol’s ‘Bandar’ Team Halts Showcasing in Multiplex Chains Over Fewer Shows: ‘Not Chasing Opening-Weekend Spectacle’

The highly anticipated theatrical release of the dark thriller Bandar, starring Bollywood actor Bobby Deol, has hit an unexpected roadblock just as it was gearing up to greet audiences. In a sudden and bold move, the makers of the film have officially instructed major national multiplex chains, including PVR Inox and Cinepolis, to completely halt the programming and showcasing of the movie across their properties. This drastic decision stems from a heated pre-release conflict regarding screen allocation and show timings, with the production team alleging unfair treatment from the leading theater chains. The film, which marks the first creative collaboration between Bobby Deol and acclaimed director Anurag Kashyap, was intended to have a highly targeted rollout, but the initial distribution schedule left the creators deeply dissatisfied with how the slots were being divided among competing titles.

According to prominent industry insiders, the core of the dispute revolves around the specific showcasing demands put forth by the makers of Bandar, who were not aiming for an overwhelmingly wide commercial release but rather a focused, audience-oriented strategy. The production team had reasonably requested a modest allocation of four shows in five-screen multiplexes and three shows in four-screen theaters, with a strong emphasis that these screenings take place post 1 PM to comfortably cater to their primary adult demographic. However, friction arose because the major national multiplex chains are heavily involved in the distribution of other rival movies releasing in the exact same week. With theater groups prioritizing prime slots for competing projects, the team behind Bandar strongly believed that the screen distribution was unfairly skewed to the point of completely undermining their film’s visibility and potential. Rather than accepting unfavorable time slots that could damage the project’s performance, the makers took a firm stance to freeze the film’s rollout until an equitable agreement is reached.

Addressing the ongoing standoff with exhibitors, Zee Studios Distribution and Revenue Head Girish Johar broke his silence to clarify the production house’s perspective, asserting that their requirements are perfectly fair, doable, and designed for a smart release model. Johar explained that because the film has a concise runtime of just over 130 minutes and releases during a particularly crowded week at the box office, they consciously chose to avoid a massive, uncoordinated launch and instead planned a structured release across roughly 500 to 600 screens. He emphasized that the team is definitely not chasing an artificial opening-weekend spectacle or immediate box office records; instead, they are playing a long-term game built around strong word-of-mouth promotion to steadily expand showcasing in the coming weeks. While intense back-and-forth negotiations continue between the studio and multiplex executives to iron out the structural issues, the dramatic standoff highlights the growing challenges independent-minded content faces when competing for real estate in modern cinema halls.